Salento reforestation study addresses Xylella impact

A study conducted by the University of Salento, in collaboration with Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), has analyzed the ecological impact of losing olive groves in the Salento region due to Xylella fastidiosa.

Research published in Scientific Reports indicates that in areas where Xylella has destroyed olive trees, soil temperatures have risen by 2.4°C. This increase also affects air temperatures. In contrast, forest areas dominated by holm oaks (leccete) have been able to mitigate this effect, keeping soil temperature increases within 1°C.

The study, which utilized satellite imagery to analyze data from 2006 to 2022, highlights that olive groves previously played a vital role in maintaining local biodiversity, stabilizing the rural landscape, and acting as carbon sinks. Based on these findings, researchers have developed reforestation scenarios for the period between 2023 and 2032 to help restore the ecological balance and address climate change in the region.